Native American drummers and dancers will gather on Saturday, May 3, for the 26th Annual United Pow Wow at the Omak Tribal Longhouse in Omak. The public is invited to this free event, which includes afternoon and evening grand entries and a dinner.

This year, the pow wow's theme is Families Closing the GAP: Graduate, Attendance and Participate. The Colville Confederated Tribes K-12 Youth and Attendance Program is one of the sponsors of the pow wow, which will honor students and families for attending school.

A plaque dedication will also be held in memory of Christine Quintasket, whose pen name was Mourning Dove. A Colville tribal member, Mourning Dove was the first Native American woman to publish a novel. A symposium celebrating her accomplishments was held in Omak last November.

The first grand entry will begin at 1 p.m., with dinner following at 5 p.m., and an evening grand entry at 7 p.m. Soy Redthunder will serve as maser of ceremonies. Dan Nanamkin will be the arena director. A United Pow Wow queen and princess will also be selected at the pow wow and will reign for the 2014-15 year.

All drummers and dancers are welcome, and host drums will be chosen at each session.

This drug- and alcohol-free event is funded by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation K-12 Program, Wenatchee Valley College at Omak Red Road Association and the Omak School District Salish Language class.

For more information, contact Livia Millard at 509.422.7814, Emily Abrahamson at 509.826.8520 or Linda Saint at 509.322.2315.

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